BSPC Enlarged Standing Committee Meeting Brussels, 1 February Draft Annotated Agenda

Transcription

1 Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference The Secretariat 20 January 2011/JanWidberg BSPC Enlarged Standing Committee Meeting Brussels, 1 February 2011 Draft Annotated Agenda Programme : Registration in the Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP), rue Wiertz Welcome of the delegations in the lobby of the ASP Building. Distribution of Access Badges. The participants will be met by staff from the European Parliament : First Session. Room ASP 1 E 1 Briefings by representatives from the European Commission (see below) : Lunch Hosted by Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Switzerland, Iceland and Norway and to the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee. Venue: Member s Restaurant, Altiero Spinelli Building. (Invitation only) : Second Session. Enlarged Standing Committee Meeting. Room ASP 1 E 1 Including briefing by CBSS. 10:00 FIRST SESSION Briefing on the Northern Dimension by Petteri Vuorimaki, European External Action Service (EEAS), Unit for Relations with Russia and the Northern Dimension Policy In the 19 th BSPC Resolution, while taking note of the adoption of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in October 2009, it was underlined that since the EU strategy is an 1(13)

2 internal EU endeavor, it should be adequately harmonized with the Northern Dimension policy, which brings together EU- and non-eu- members as equal cooperating partners. Governments in the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU, are thus called upon to coordinate as far as possible the EU Baltic Sea Strategy with the Northern Dimension policy, as well as with the Council of the Baltic Sea States - being a core regional cooperation body - and other Northern and Baltic cooperation bodies. In the BSPC Work Programme , one of the objectives is to promote the further development of the Northern Dimension and the European Neighbourhood Policy, for instance by actively taking part in relevant activities and by exchanging views and positions with relevant bodies of the European Parliament. In this connection, BSPC will act to support the development of a EU Baltic Sea Strategy that is fully aligned with the Northern Dimension, including regular reports from the European Commission; The EU Northern Dimension homepage is found at: Briefing on the EU Baltic Sea Strategy by Anders Lindholm In her intervention at the 1st Annual Forum on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in October 2010, Christina Gestrin said that the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, based on an initiative by the Baltic Intergroup in the European Parliament, is a welcome companion to the array of strategies, policies and tools to manage the challenges of the Baltic Sea Region. The consultation procedure preceding the adoption of the Strategy was an exemplary exercise in transparency and inclusion. The structure of cooperation evolving in the Baltic Sea Region is in many ways ground-breaking, with huge potential to deliver results and also serve as best practice and inspiration for other regions. Gestrin also pointed out that it is fundamentally important to ensure that all stakeholders of the Region from EU- as well as non-eu countries can participate in the work on an equal footing. BSPC strongly advocate the continuous alignment of the EU Strategy with the Northern Dimension policy, which constitutes a general framework for cooperation between EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland. Moreover, she emphasized that it is important to widen and facilitate the access to funds for all stakeholders of the Region. The EU Baltic Sea Region Programme , for instance, embraces North-West Russia and Belarus as eligible applicants. This supports a development of projects and approaches which is based on the nature of the challenges, regardless of their geographical distribution, and not on administrative divisions. Finally, she stressed that the value and success of the Strategy will be judged not by its internal logic, but by its capacity to improve the welfare in a wide sense of the citizens of the Region. A sincere and expanded dialogue with citizens, NGOs, civic organizations and others should therefore be an integral part of the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. In the BSPC Work Programme , one of the objectives is to support the development of a EU Baltic Sea Strategy that is fully aligned with the Northern Dimension, including regular reports from the European Commission. The EU Baltic Sea Strategy homepage can be accessed at: Briefing on EU Integrated Maritime Policy by Haitze Siemers 2(13)

3 In the 19 th BSPC Resolution, governments in the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU, are called upon to, i.a., promote new measures in view of reduction of harmful emissions; investigate to what extent the reduction of the sulphur content of ship fuels may result in competitive disadvantages to the economy in the Baltic Sea Region and elaborate proposals on how to avoid such disadvantages while maintaining high environmental standards in the maritime sector; actively support the projects approved for funding under the Baltic region Programme, especially such projects with the objective to reduce harmful emissions from ships and develop reception facilities for waste water from ships in the ports of the Baltic Sea; extend the obligatory use of pilots in risk areas of the Baltic Sea and strictly implement the ban on transporting oil in single-hulled tankers; continue to ensure improvements to the transport infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region and, while focussing in particular on developing land and sea routes, to promote a transport policy that is in principle governed by the idea that transport operations should be carried out in an eco-friendly way, supported by an interconnected infrastructure; and make sure that the EU TEN-T core network must be made up of nodes (capitals, other cities or agglomerations of supraregional importance, gateway ports, intercontinental hub ports and airports, the most important inland ports and freight terminals) and connections of the highest strategic and economic importance linked with key infrastructure in third countries (including Russia). In the BSPC Work Programme , one of the objectives is to promote the development of an EU Integrated Maritime Policy. Guidelines and practical political proposals to this end will be elaborated by the BSPC Working Group on Integrated Maritime Policy. The Working Group shall also aim at elaborating political positions and recommendations on other infrastructural issues; The EU Integrated Maritime Policy homepage is found at: 14:00 SECOND SESSION Report on CBSS by Mr Dag Briseid, Chairman of the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) According to the BSPC Rules of Procedure, the Enlarged Standing Committee meets annually in December February with the CBSS Chair. The Enlarged Standing Committee receives a report from the CBSS Chair on the implementation of the BSPC resolutions and other current issues in the region. BSPC and CBSS have regular and constructive contacts at various levels. In the 19 th BSPC Resolution, BSPC reaffirms the close, constructive and mutually beneficial exchange between BSPC and CBSS, as evidenced in e g the interaction between BSPC and CBSS working bodies on trafficking in human beings and on integrated maritime policy It also recognizes the usefulness of this interaction as a joint resource in following and addressing the economic, social and political challenges of the Baltic Sea Region. BSPC furthermore calls upon the governments of the Baltic Sea Region to consider ways to further strengthen cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region between the CBSS and the BSPC in order to ensure cohesion and to avoid divisions in the Baltic Sea Region, while supporting CBSS in implementing the aims of its reform process and achieving concrete results within the framework of its long-time priorities. Governments are moreover urged to coordinate as far as possible the EU Baltic Sea Strategy with the Northern Dimension policy, as well as 3(13)

4 with the Council of the Baltic Sea States - being a core regional cooperation body - and other Northern and Baltic cooperation bodies. In the BSPC Work Programme , one of the objectives is to support the policies of the CBSS and to further the co-operation between the CBSS and the BSPC, for instance by sustaining contacts and cooperation between secretariats, by attempting to synchronize priorities, and by maintaining an interaction between working bodies of the BSPC and the CBSS, such as the BSPC Working Groups and the CBSS Expert Groups and Task Forces. Civil Security, including Trafficking, and Integrated Maritime Policy are priorities in 2011 both of BSPC and CBSS. BSPC was invited to the 8 th Baltic Sea States Summit in June 2010, and Christina Gestrin reaffirmed the close, continuous and constructive interaction between CBSS and BSPC. In the opinion of BSPC, CBSS has a central role as a driver for comprehensive action to manage the challenges of the Baltic Sea Region. BSPC on its side has a pronounced ambition to synchronize its objectives and priorities with those of the corresponding bodies of the CBSS. She also said that the Baltic Sea Region is bustling with actors and initiatives. A practical and more structured dialogue between stakeholders would strengthen both their individual and their combined capacity to deal with the challenges of the Region. CBSS could use its leverage to push for such coordination. The CBSS homepage can be accessed at: 1. Opening and Adoption of the Agenda The meeting is chaired by Christina Gestrin, Chairman of the BSPC Standing Committee The meeting is invited to adopt the Draft Annotated Agenda. 2. Draft Notes from the BSPC Standing Committee meeting in Berlin 19 October 2010 Attachment 2.1: Draft Notes from the Standing Committee Meeting in Berlin 19 October 2010 The BSPC Standing Committee met in Berlin 29 August The meeting is invited to adopt the draft notes from the Standing Committee meeting. 3. Follow-Up of 19th BSPC, Mariehamn Attachment 3.1: Attachment 3.2: Resolution from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (31 pages) Letter from Danish Foreign Minister 3.1 The 19 th BSPC Harry Jansson will be invited to comment on the experiences and outcome of the 19 th BSPC in Mariehamn. The meeting is invited to share their views on the 19 th BSPC in Mariehamn. 4(13)

5 3.2 Follow-up of the 19 th BSPC The BSPC Resolutions are, as declared in the BSPC Work programme, political tools which enable the BSPC to take and support political initiatives, and to approach the governments of the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the European Union with joint political standpoints and recommendations on issues of common interest. It is important to develop appropriate and viable ways of propagating the resolutions, recording their impact, and monitoring their implementation. The Standing Committee meeting in Berlin 19 October agreed to recommend the BSPC delegations to issue a letter to their Ministries of Foreign Affairs with a request for a report in March/April on actions taken to implement the 19th BSPC Resolution. These reports should be forwarded to the BSPC Secretariat for compilation and circulation. Two examples of constructive follow-up of the 19 th BSPC Resolution are attached: 1) a Resolution from the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the Implementation of the 19 th BSPC Resolution, and 2) a letter from the Danish Foreign Minister with a response to an inquiry from Henrik Dam Kristensen, Danish MP, about the implementation of the 19 th BSPC Resolution. The meeting is invited to present initiatives and experiences concerning the follow-up of the 19 th BSPC Resolution. 4. BSPC Working Groups 4.1 Current Working Groups The next meeting in the WG Civil Security will be convened in Helsinki on 18 January The topic of the meeting will be children at risk. The next meeting in the WG Integrated Maritime Policy will take place in Stockholm 24 March, addressing i.a. competitiveness in the maritime sector. There are ideas to try and arrange a meeting between BSPC WG Integrated Maritime Policy and the CBSS Expert Group on Maritime Policy in connection with the European Maritime Day in Gdansk May (see info and programme: The meeting is invited to take note of the information. 4.2 New Working Groups The Standing Committee meeting on 19 October encouraged the German delegation to maintain informal contacts with the upcoming German chairmanship of the CBSS ( ) about its possible priorities. The Secretary Level meeting 11 January discussed the possible formation of new BSPC Working Groups in connection with the 20 th BSPC. The general opinion was in favour of the Working Groups as an efficient instrument of BSPC, but found that one new WG would probably suffice. One of the possible themes for a new WG could be green growth, including energy efficiency. It was considered important that the theme and priorities of a new BSPC WG to the extent possible are aligned with the priorities of the CBSS. Both Baltic 21 and BASREC are addressing issues like green growth and energy efficiency. Furthermore, green 5(13)

6 growth might be among the priorities of the German Chairmanship of the CBSS This should be probed further. A decision to launch a new BSPC WG should be taken at the BSPC Enlarged Standing Committee meeting in June The meeting is invited to discuss the formation of new BSPC Working Group(s). 5. Proposal by Valentina Pivnenko The Speaker of the Murmansk regional Duma, Yevgeny Nikora (who attended the 19 th BSPC as guest), has announced that he will arrange a parliamentary meeting in Murmansk on April on energy related issues. The meeting, in the form of a roundtable discussion, will address topics like energy efficiency, safe exploitation of nuclear power and renewable energy resources in the north. Nordic Council and BSPC will be invited to the meeting. The roundtable fits very well with the idea tabled by Ms Pivnenko. Participation by the BSPC in the planned parliamentary meeting in Murmansk on April on energy related issues could well be seen as an accommodation of Ms Pivnenko s proposal. Hence, BSPC will await an invitation to the meeting and act accordingly. The meeting is invited to discuss BSPC participation in the Murmansk meeting in April. 6. Proposal by Anita Brodén The Chairman of the BSPC WG on Integrated Maritime Policy, Jochen Schulte, has informed that it is the opinion of the WG that issues such as these are, and should be, handled primarily by HELCOM. His suggestion is that BSPC could approach HELCOM with a request for a situation report on the issue of sewage discharge and handling. The Chairman of the BSPC will contact the HELCOM Executive Secretary on this issue. The meeting is invited to take note of the information. 7. Follow-Up of the Commitment to BSAS Attachment 7.1 BSPC commitment to the Baltic Sea Action Summit in February 2010 The achievements of BSPC in fulfilling its commitment to BSAS have been submitted to the BSAS register of commitments on its website. The text goes: Since the adoption of the commitment, BSPC has raised the issue of enhanced coordinated sea surveillance in numerous connections: - In speeches and presentations, e g at the CBSS Summit in June and at the 19 th BSPC; - In articles in the Baltic Rim Economies in June, in Asia-Europe Journal in October, and in Hufvudstadsbladet in December; - In the work of the BSPC Working Group on Integrated Maritime Policy; 6(13)

7 - In the Resolution from the 19 th BSPC, forwarded to all the governments of the Baltic Sea Region, The EU and the CBSS. BSPC will also address these issues at the 20 th BSPC in Helsinki in See: Moreover, BSPC will contact HELCOM with a request for information on the progress of coordinating sea surveillance systems in the Baltic Sea. The meeting is invited to take note of the information. 8. Cooperation with NDPHS Attachment 8.1 Memo from NDPHS EG ASA on cooperation with BSPC In the BSPC Work Programme , one of the objectives is to develop contacts and exchange with the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being with a view to arranging a joint activity on a relevant health-related topic. The Standing Committee meeting 19 October agreed that the BSPC Secretariat, for the time being, should act as point of contact with NDPHS and its Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Abuse (EG ASA). BSPC was invited to the NDPHS Partnership Annual Conference in Copenhagen on 28 October ( copenhagen). Jan Widberg gave a short briefing on the role and work of BSPC. Jan Widberg met the Chairman of the NDPHS Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Abuse (EG ASA) on 14 December to discuss the modalities and content of further cooperation between BSPC and NDPHS. Excerpts from the discussion: It was acknowledged that the issue of alcohol and substance abuse (ASA) is not only a question of health and well-being from an individual perspective, but a challenge that affects social welfare in a broader sense, and, ultimately, social cohesion and the conditions for socio-economic development as such. The ASA issue is therefore of growing political significance and concern, in addition to its medical/technical aspects. It also relates to overarching political questions on resource allocation and priorities for health and social welfare purposes. It was underlined from EG ASA that this approach to the issue was gaining increasing Russian attention and involvement. Support from parliamentarians can be instrumental in raising the visibility of the ASA issue, in building opinion, and in exerting pressure on governments and other competent authorities to take action. BSPC can provide a platform for rallying support for the issue and for conveying political recommendations and requests to the governments of the Baltic Sea Region. It was agreed that subsequent interaction between BSPC and NDPHS/EG ASA should proceed in a stepwise manner. A tentative timeline and target could be the following, aiming at conducting some kind of joint activity at the 20th BSPC in Helsinki in 2011: - EG ASA will draft a 1-2- page concept memo concerning possible cooperation between EG ASA and BSPC (attached); 7(13)

8 - Ideas for cooperation between BSPC and EG ASA can be elaborated during spring; - The cooperation issue could again be addressed at the BSPC ESC spring meeting; - At the 20 th BSPC, a joint activity can be conducted. The meeting is invited to discuss the modalities and issues for a possible cooperation with NDPHS EG ASA. 9. Belarus Attachment 9.1 Invitation from Belarus Christina Gestrin has received an invitation to visit Belarus sometime in May or June as Head of a BSPC delegation. The meeting is invited to discuss how to respond to the invitation. 10. BSPC Finances 2010 and Proposed Budget Plan for 2011 Attachment 10.1 BSPC Financial Report for 2010 Attachment 10.2 Budget Plan Proposal for Financial Report 2010 for the BSPC Joint Financing Mechanism (JFM) A draft Financial Report for 2010 is found in attachment 5.1. The concluding comments read: The financial result for the JFM in 2010 shows a deficit of Looking at the result by budget posts, expenditures for Secretariat, Conference and Information exceed their respective allocations. Expenditures for Standing Committee, Enlarged Standing Committee, Working Groups and Rapporteurs fall below the allocated sums. Viewing the result by categories, Travel and Interpretation costs exceed their allocations, Documentation and Website costs are slightly higher, while Meeting Costs and External Expertise fall below their allocations. The costs for the Secretariat have included travel costs both for the Secretary and the Chairman. These costs could be reduced by omitting the allocation for external travel and by further rationalizing the travel of the Secretary. The total costs for meetings in the various BSPC bodies are considerably lower than their budget allocations. The meeting costs, such as catering and premises, have been lower than expected in all three bodies. Interpretation costs have also been lower in the Standing Committee and Enlarged Standing Committee meetings, while it balanced the allocated sum in the Working Group meetings. Although the JFM should be used to cover as much as possible of meeting costs, allocation in 2011 could be adapted to the results in 2009 and The BSPC Rapporteurs have incurred no costs at all. 8(13)

9 The Conference costs for 2010 remain roughly at the same level as in Following the established practice that the main part of conference costs (parts of the external expertise, interpretation and equipment, and conference documentation) are covered by JFM, it is probable that this level of cost will remain in Moreover, since it is the 20 th anniversary BSPC in 2011, it is not unlikely that this occasion will generate exceptional costs in connection with the Conference. Such extra costs could be covered by unused means. Nonetheless, a lowering of costs should be sought after, e g by using local interpreters to a larger extent, and by more non-expensive methods of documentation. The meeting is invited to approve the draft Financial Report 2010 for the BSPC JFM. The meeting is invited to agree that unused means can be used to cover the deficit in The meeting is invited to agree that it is the Enlarged Standing Committee that authorizes the use of unused means, whereas in cases case of more limited amounts, authorization is delegated to the Chairman of the BSPC BSPC Budget Plan for 2011 A proposal for a BSPC Budget Plan for 2011 is attached. The starting-point for the allocations is the nominal resource for the BSPC Joint Financing Mechanism, The distribution of allocations is based on experiences from previous year and on assumptions concerning the cost distribution in The meeting is invited to approve the draft BSPC Budget Plan for Financial Request Letter for 2011 The request letter for the annual financial contributions to the JFM is usually issued in the beginning of the year. The request letter for contributions for 2011 could accordingly be issued after the Enlarged Standing Committee meeting 1 February. The meeting is invited to instruct the Secretariat to issue a financial request letter for BSPC Secretariat Attachment 11.1 BSPC Secretariat financing after 2011 An example The Standing Committee meeting 19 October agreed on the principle of gradually, starting 2012, replacing the current remuneration model for the BSPC Secretary in which the Nordic Council alone covers the remuneration with a model in which all BSPC member parliaments contribute to the remuneration of the Secretary as well as to the financing of the running costs of the Secretariat. The attached memo is a calculation exercise built on the assumption that there will be a gradual transition from the current model of financing the Secretary (by Nordic Council) and secretariat (by the BSPC Joint Financing Mechanism), to a model in which the costs both of the secretariat and the remuneration of the Secretary are covered jointly by an increase of the BSPC member contributions to the JFM. In this model, the contributions from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will gradually increase between , while the rest of the member parliaments will start paying the new, increased, member contributions already from (13)

10 The approach in the memo has also been discussed with the Nordic Council secretariat and in the BSPC Secretary Level. The Nordic Council will address this issue at its Presidium meeting on January The meeting is invited to discuss the model in the memo and the issue of financing the BSPC Secretary after BSPC Work Programme The BSPC Work programme (WP) was adopted by the 19 th BSPC. It has been considered important to continue to synchronize the priorities of the BSPC WP with the priorities of the CBSS. The Secretary Level meeting 11 January recommended that an attempt should be made to include a more concrete work plan or timetable in the coming WP It is suggested that the preparation and adoption of the WP follows the timetable of the current WP. The preparation of the BSPC WP begins in early spring 2011, with the aim to adopt the WP at the 20 th BSPC in August Germany assumes the chairmanship of the CBSS in June Consequently, informal contacts between CBSS and BSPC concerning their respective priorities should be pursued during spring A similar process should be applied when preparing the BSPC WP , to be adopted at the 21 st BSPC in August Russia will assume the chairmanship of the CBSS in June The meeting is invited to take note of the information. 13. BSPC Rules of Procedure The current version of the BSPC Rules of Procedure (RoP), in effect after the closure of the 19 th BSPC, has evolved gradually since the first version was adopted by the 8 th BSPC in Mariehamn Thus, the current version of the RoP is an amalgamation of the original text and amendments made at the 11 th, 14 th, 16 th, 18 th and 19 th Conferences. A streamlining of the RoP, regarding both form and content, could be justified in order to obtain a more concise and consolidated document. A draft revised RoP could be presented at the planned Enlarged Standing Committee meeting in June The meeting is invited to discuss the procedure of streamlining the BSPC RoP. 14. From BSP Conference to Council? The Secretary Level meeting 11 January discussed the desirability and procedure of replacing Conference in BSPC with Council. There appears to be a majority in favour of Council, but the issue needs more consideration. Preferably, the matter should be settled during spring, so that a name change if that position gains consensus can be adopted by the 20 th Anniversary BSPC. 10(13)

11 The meeting is invited to discuss the desirability and procedure of replacing Conference in BSPC with Council. 15. The 20 th BSPC, Helsinki, Finland Attachment th BSPC Draft Programme, version th Conference The Parliament of Finland has kindly offered to host the 20 th anniversary BSPC in Helsinki on August The meeting will be given a briefing on the current status of preparations. A draft programme is attached. The meeting is invited to discuss the structure and content of the programme, including proposals for speakers. The meeting is invited to agree that unused means from JFM can be used to cover unexpected and exceptional costs in connection with the 20 th Anniversary BSPC th Conference Resolution According to established practice, the Conference Resolution shall be concise and address only those issues raised at the Conference. The preparation of the 20 th BSPC Resolution will follow the same timetable as the 19 th Resolution. A very first draft outline Resolution will be submitted to the Enlarged Standing Committee meeting in June This draft will then be elaborated on the basis of the deliberations during the meeting. Additional input will be provided by the BSPC Working Groups, which will have their final meetings in mid-june. In the amended BSPC Rules of Procedure concerning the Drafting Committee, it is stated that a draft baseline resolution shall be forwarded to the delegations no later than six weeks prior to the annual conference. This means that the official draft baseline 20 th BSPC Resolution will be distributed around the beginning of July Motions for amendments to the draft baseline resolution shall be submitted to the Secretariat no later than one week before the first meeting of the Drafting Committee (that is, 22 August 2011). Amendment proposals received after 22 August will be disregarded. The Secretariat compiles all properly received amendments and distributes them to the Drafting Committee prior to its first meeting. The Enlarged Standing Committee has its first meeting as Drafting Committee on Monday 29 August 2011 at 08:00. The meeting is invited to take note of the information. 11(13)

12 16. Events, Reports and Invitations Attachment 16.1 Attachment nd NDPF prior announcement 5 th Barents Parliamentary Conference prior announcement Past Baltic Assembly held its 29 th Session in Riga on October. Jan Widberg took part. The Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-Being (NDPHS) held its Partnership Annual Conference in Copenhagen on 28 October. Jan Widberg took part and gave a briefing on the BSPC and its priorities. The 62 nd Session of the Nordic Council took place in Reykjavik 2-4 November. Christina Gestrin participated. The Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN), in which BSPC is Associate Partner, summoned its Steering Committee and its Facilitator Team in Hamburg on November. Franz Thönnes and Jan Widberg took part. Upcoming The Second Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum will be convened in Tromsø, Norway on February 2011 with the Norwegian Parliament as host. Formal invitations were issued on 21 November. Christina Gestrin will participate and chair one of the working sessions of the Forum. The Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN) will hold a Steering Committee meeting on March. A Roundtable Discussion on Energy Issues will be arranged in Murmansk on April. The 4 th Nevsky International Ecological Congress will be arranged in St Petersburg May. The 5 th Barents Parliamentary Conference will be arranged in Luleå, Sweden, May. The European Maritime Day 2011 will be arranged in Gdansk May. The 16 th CBSS Ministerial Meeting will be convened in Oslo 6-7 June. BSPC will be invited. The meeting is invited to take note of the information and to consider participation from BSPC. See also the BSPC website, where BSPC news are published continuously. 17. BSPC Calendar - Secretary Level: Next Secretary Level meeting will be held 10 th May in Tallinn. 12(13)

13 - Enlarged Standing Committee: An offer to host the Enlarged Standing Committee spring meeting in the town of Olsztyn, Poland, has been brought forward by Ryszard Górecki, who is willing, in cooperation with regional authorities to prepare an interesting social program and to show to BSPC ESC members the best of Warmia and Mazury region. The tentative timeframe would be 9 12 June (alternatively 11 June). Transportation will be organized between Warsaw Airport and Olsztyn, and block reservations made in a hotel in Olsztyn with price of about 80 Euro/night. - Standing Committee: Next meeting will be in connection with the 20 th BSPC on Sunday 28 th August 18:00. At this meeting, the Chairman of the BSPC and the host of the 21 st BSPC will be appointed. The meeting is invited to consider the dates for coming BSPC meetings. 18. Any Other Business Optional. 13(13)